Safety & Emergency Preparedness Manager

Location: Salem Hospital, 720 Winter Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Building Operations
Position Type: Full Time, 40 hours/week, Exempt, Fully Onsite
Schedule: 7:00 or8:00 am - 4:00 or 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday, 24/7 accountability


Your role with us

Salem Health is seeking a strategic, highly visible leader to serve as Manager of Safety & Emergency Preparedness on our Building Operations team. This is a critical leadership role responsible for strengthening and advancing the organization's safety culture, regulatory readiness, and emergency preparedness programs.

This role is ideal for an experienced safety leader who thrives in complex environments, can quickly assess operational gaps, and has the confidence and expertise to drive meaningful improvement across a large healthcare organization. You will serve as the organization's designated Safety Officer, providing leadership and oversight for workplace safety programs, OSHA compliance, emergency preparedness planning, survey readiness, and environmental safety initiatives across Salem Health.

This is not a "maintain the status quo" opportunity. The department has a strong foundation, and leadership is seeking someone who can bring fresh perspective, elevate systems and processes, and help move the organization forward. The ideal candidate will spend the first several months assessing current programs, identifying opportunities for improvement, and building a strategic roadmap to strengthen safety and emergency management operations organization-wide.

Success in this role requires more than technical expertise. We are looking for a collaborative, relationship-driven leader who communicates exceptionally well, is comfortable leading in highly visible situations, and can effectively influence stakeholders at every level of the organization. You'll partner closely with leaders across facilities, operations, construction, security, and clinical areas while serving as a trusted subject matter expert during high-priority organizational initiatives, emergency events, regulatory surveys, and safety-related concerns.

This role also requires a strong people leader - someone capable of coaching and developing teams, navigating difficult personnel situations, and fostering a culture grounded in accountability, engagement, service, and continuous improvement.

What you'll do

• Serve as Salem Health's designated Safety Officer with oversight of workplace safety programs and OSHA compliance.
• Lead the organization's Safety and Emergency Management programs, including strategic planning, implementation, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Assess current operational programs, identify gaps, and develop actionable improvement plans to strengthen organizational readiness and compliance.
• Oversee environmental safety rounds, workplace injury prevention initiatives, and formal safety investigations.
• Monitor safety performance metrics and lead improvement efforts related to compliance, injury reduction, and training completion.
• Maintain and oversee the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), emergency preparedness drills, and after-action improvement initiatives.
• Ensure ongoing regulatory compliance and continuous readiness for surveys, audits, inspections, and accreditation activities.
• Serve as a key organizational liaison during safety surveys and regulatory inspections.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community emergency management partners and external agencies.
• Lead and support multidisciplinary teams across Safety and Emergency Management functions.
• Provide coaching, accountability, and professional development to direct reports and department staff.
• Influence leaders and frontline staff across the organization to adopt and sustain safe practices.
• Participate in emergency response activities and organizational incident management as needed.
• Manage departmental resources, budget responsibilities, and safety-related capital recommendations.
• Represent the department across organizational committees, leadership meetings, and system-wide initiatives.

What we're looking for

• Experienced safety leader with strong technical knowledge of workplace safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to assess operational programs, identify improvement opportunities, and lead strategic change initiatives.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, communicate, and collaborate across all levels of an organization
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills with confidence representing the department in highly visible settings.
• A proactive, service-oriented mindset with a "happy to help" leadership approach.
• Demonstrated success leading teams through complexity, accountability challenges, and operational change.
• Strong decision-making and critical thinking skills in high-pressure and time-sensitive situations.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with day-to-day operational oversight.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Emergency Management, Healthcare Administration, etc.).
• Three years of supervisory or leadership experience.

Additional information

• Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) required within six months of hire.

Total rewards package


Salem Health's comprehensive benefits package prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations, and professional growth. Click here for details.


Why Salem Health?

Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.


We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you'll find more than a job, you'll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.